Do vegetarian parents have the right to decide for their children?...?

Question

I am vegetarian, and have been since I was 15. I made a decision to refrain from eating meat based on my personal ethics. However, if I ever have children, is it ethical to inflict my personal views on to their diet and (if not) how do I reconcile buying meat, and cooking it, for them to eat?...

Answer 1

No, I do not believe that a Vegetarian or any other type of eater has the right to decide for their child how to eat.
I am a vegetarian and my kids eat meat, along with my veggie foods. Kids often have a "Body Wisdom" about what is good and healthy for themselves, and no one should override that.

good luck.

Answer 2

Do meat-eating parents have the right to decide for their children?? I guess the argument could go both ways.
I think that when I have children they will be reared on a vegetarian diet until they are older, then the choice can be theirs. I abhor the thought of brining meat into my home and preparing it. It goes against my principles.

Answer 3

i think it is great you took your life and turned it into a healthier life but if u ever have children it is their decision if they want to eat meat. its okay for opinions but it is the child's choice. it will be hard to cook meat for them if you're a vegetarian but you can probably handle it. i hope this helps but remember if your a vegetarian it is because u decided to not cause of ethics you could of easily took control and said I WANT TO EAT MEAT its alright i go with any decision you choose.

Answer 4

Yes. If you have to decide their clothes, ethics, religion, and everything else then why not their diet? A truly loving parent will teach their children the right way and then when the children are older, they can decide for themselves. If you give them a healthy start, you will insure a healthy outlook later. Plus you will help fight the obesity we see in so many children who are not taught healthy eating habits! Don't be too strict though, or they will rebel later and sneak things. Just play it by ear. Your children are individuals and need to be heard but if you teach them correctly, they will work with you to find compromises.

Answer 5

Well, I'm in the same situation at present, but in reverse:
I am not a vegeterian, but my daughter had decided to become a vegetarian 2 plus years ago now. I felt perplexed initally but felt I only could adapt to the change since like you I wanted her to have a choice. This does mean at times, I make two variations of a meal or simply eliminate the meat portion in her case. I don't ask her questions about why she chosen this and I don't try to make her feel as though she's weird or irrational in anyway for her choice, I support it completely. We both have accepted that we have to power to chose our own diets and don't ridicule the other for our personal food choices. It's wonderful and liberating.
There is one thing in your case that I would find challenging, and that is cooking meat and serving it if you are not comfortable with it? I think it best if you simply eat as you do in your childless state even after your bundle arrives, just make small accommadation for them in early development ( that doesn't mean you should serve meat) Then as they understand more and there awareness grows you can see if the child would then like to have meat prepared for them at home after introdution. Adjust their diet according to their liking at that point ,without feeling like you've kept them from choosing for themselves.

Answer 6

In my opinion, there is nothing wrong with feeding them a vegetarian diet, granted you take proper care that they get all the iron etc that they need (which, as children, will be more than you need).
It is like raising your child a Christian, for example. They may not believe in that faith when they are older, but while they are your responsibility, you are going to do what you think is best for them. Vegetarianism may not be quite as strongly motivated as christianity... i mean, being a vegetarian does not mean that you believe you are saving the souls of your children... but if that is what you do under your roof, then that is the way you should raise them. With a bit of luck, they will grow up feeling the same way as you.
Should however, when they are old enough, WANT to eat meat, then by all means, bring some meat into their diet. You can direct them, but never force them.

Answer 7

Turn your question around and ask whether or not parents have the right to force their children to eat meat...they don't, it's just how they were brought up so therefore it is the norm to them. If you are responsible in making sure that your child has a nutritionally balanced, healthy diet then you can feed them whatever YOUR conscience allows you to until they are of an age to decide for themselves. If they decide that they would like to eat meat and you are against it, then it is up to them to provide the food, and the separate utensils to cook it in, also to cook it for themselves. I am vegetarian but my husband isn't, we have separate cooking utensils and he does most of the cooking as I will not cook his meat/fish for him and he is quite happy with that because we are both reasonable adults. He will always eat whatever I cook knowing full well that it is completely vegetarian.

Answer 8

No one questions if it's right to feed their child meat. To contribute to the death of Billions of animals and start their child down the road to heart disease, cancer, and a host of other problems. If it's not wrong to do this, then I can't imagine a logical augment as to why a vegetarian could not choose to raise Vegetarian children. All major World health and Dietetic associations agree It's perfectly healthy for Children to eat a Vegetarian or Vegan diet. It's perfectly ethical.

Answer 9

I don't think that it is right that just because you don't like it your kids can't eat it. You should test them out and ask them if it would be okay for them if they couldn't eat meat. They might not want to eat meat in the first place after them seeing you not eat it. But they might not ever get to taste meat if you don't let them eat it. Once they do try it they might like it and be mad at you for not letting them eat it before. I don't know how your kids would behave and what their like and dislikes are so I can't tell you. If you ask a doctor they might be able to help you determine what is best for YOUR kids.

Answer 10

You have the right, and arguably the responsibility, to raise any children you may have according to your beliefs, so long as such practice does not incur risk to them.
While I am a carnivore, I am aware that it is entirely possible to create a healthy diet that is free of meat and other animal products.
There is, however, a moral line that others do cross. Christian Scientists, for instance, believe that seeking medical care is sinful, and that injury and illness should be addressed with prayer. For an adult to bear the consequences of his or her own beliefs is one thing, but for a parent to deny medical treatment to a child for such reasons is unconscionable, and needless deaths have been attributed to such decisions.
You're nowhere near that neighborhood.